2018 Preakness Balloon Festival

By Michael Jordan · May 13, 2018 · 1 Comment
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West Friendship (MD) – Pilots and ground crew heat things up for the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival. Approximately 14 hot air balloons and their crews converge on the Howard County Fair Grounds from all across the country. The annual festival celebrates the lead up to the annual running of the Preakness Stakes.

The festival runs from May 11th through the 13th. The festival also features food, live music, tethered balloon rides and free flight balloon rides (weather permitting)

At dusk, organizers promise a photogenic “Balloon Glow”.

Event information at: https://www.preaknessballoonfestival.com

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – Balloon glow at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – Pilot DJ Stukas and Crew Chief Joe Karpenske piece together the basket of the Call 811 Shovel Man balloon at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds. A crowd looks on.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – Crew Chief Joe Karpenske setting up the Call 811 Shovel Man balloon at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – The Call 811 Shovel Man hot air balloon is displayed at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds. Pilot DJ Stukas operates the burner.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – The Call 811 Shovel Man hot air balloon is displayed at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds. Pilot DJ Stukas operates the burner as a crowd looks on.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – The Call 811 Shovel Man hot air balloon is displayed at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds. Pilot DJ Stukas operates the burner.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – The Call 811 Shovel Man hot air balloon is displayed at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds. Pilot DJ Stukas operates the burner.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – The Call 811 Shovel Man hot air balloon is displayed at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – The Call 811 Shovel Man hot air balloon is displayed at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds. Pilot DJ Stukas operates the burner.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – The Call 811 Shovel Man hot air balloon is displayed at the 2018 Preakness Balloon Festival at Howard County Fair Grounds. Pilot DJ Stukas operates the burner as a crowd looks on.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – Wonder Balloon glows at the 2018 Preakness Hot Air Balloon Festival.

: May 11, 2018, West Friendship (MD) – Pilot of the Wonder Balloon operates the burners during the 2018 Preakness Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Michael Jordan is originally from New York. Mike moved to the Baltimore / D.C. area in the early 90’s. Having attended grade school through high school in Maryland, Mike considers himself a native Marylander with a side of New Yorker. "With a passion for photography and interest in news, photojournalism is a good fit for me." Contact the author.